Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-09
THE CHINESE CULPRIT.
Hong Di Takes the Wit
ness-Stand.
HE ATTEMPTS A STAGE EFFECT
BY Weeping Bitterly But His
Efforts Fail to Bring
DOwn the House."

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
CoLUsA, July S.-The trial of Hong
Di for the Murder of Mrs. Billou WAS
resumed this morning at 8 O'Clock.
Annie and Maud Billou were called and
testified, corroborating Weaver's testi-
n.ony in all its material points.
K. B. Dunning, Aaron Evans, VIM.
Deveney and James White testified ~
to the incidents following the shooting
and the search for the murderer. Will
liam II. Waddams, gunsmith of Chico,
testified to selling Hong u gun about two
years ago ano identified the gun. j. A.
Hall, Deveney aud Weaver were also
examined as to the identity of the gun,
and 5. g, Saunders testified as to the
capture Of the defendant. The prose-
cution then rested.
HONG DI's DEFENSE.
At o'clock, after recess of half an
hour, the court room and ,rridors were
crowded by eager listeners, when tho
defendant was put on the stand and
sworn.
How old are you!"
Seventeen in August"
"Do you understand the nature of an
oath?"
"If I lie be bad boy"
''How long have you been acquainted
with the Billous?"
''Since 1884"
"Do you know Weaver"
81 know him over four months"
"Did you see Weaver on the 7th of
April?"
"Yes, at dinner and at the pump"
''Did you have conversation with
"He got mad at me and swear ct me.
long"
''Now state what you did"
II 60 back to house because afraid
of him. l see him in the evening about
4:45."
The examination then brought out the
circumstances Of the supper and the
shooting. He stated that Weaver went
into supper through the kitchen and
as he passed him Weaver pointed his
finger and said, "You damn - -.
you die in the United States damned
quick" He stated that he was in the
dining room three times during the snp-
per. He had bis gun in the kitchen,
waiting for Weaver to come out to
shoot, but they were 80 long at supper
that he was afraid that Weaver would
get the start of him, and through the
door, which was partly open, he shot st
Weaver, but did not see whether he
fell. He pulled the gun back and
pushed the door further open with the
muzzle of the gun, when it sccid eatsliy
went off, shooting Mrs. B:llou4
CROCODILE TEARS.
Here Hong Di was apparently over
come with emotion, which seemed to
have but little tf1e,ton the jury.j Shortly
after this the defendant thought Weaver
jumped out of the window, and saw
Weaver's head but did not have time to
shoot at him, SO he went back into the
kitchen. Then he saw the door open
and head appear, and, thinking it was
Weaver's, shot again. Shortly after
ward he set his gun down and took an
axe and tried to break in the door but
he heard Weaver inside and so he fred
again, the ball passing through the. e.door.
He then emptied the shells on the
kitchen floor, passed out on the pore
to the rear of the house and laid down
in some bushes and cried because he had
hurt Mrs. Billou. Shortly after, he
heard people coming and he ran toward
the river.
The defense then rested.
IN REBUTTAL.
Joseph Billou, Weaver and Waddams
were called but the testimony of Bllou
and Waddams was ruled out. Weaver
denied the conversation with the Ge-
fendant and also Of having used abusive,
language. The case was then closed and
after short recess argument was begun
by the prosecution. District Attorney
Alberry made strong argument an
hour in length, and was followed by
counsel for defendant, who spoke for
forty minutes. at which time the hour
for adjournment had arrived and further
was continued until to-mor-
row morning at 8 o'clock.